Thousands of Gulf Coast residents living in travel trailers while they rebuild from the 2005 hurricanes were dreading a March 1 federal deadline to move out.

Those families, most living in Louisiana, are thankful now that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have pushed the deadline to May 1.

Secretary Napolitano and FEMA deserve credit for recognizing that most of the roughly 6,800 Gulf families using the cramped trailers have a need for them. About 90 percent of the 4,400 trailers in Louisiana are placed on the occupants' own property, suggesting that these families are still repairing flooded homes or struggling to build a new one.

Indeed, the number of occupied trailers across the Gulf Coast is down 95 percent from the program's peak in 2006.

The flimsy travel trailers were not designed for this type of long-term use, so this emergency program should not become permanent. Federal and local officials must ensure it remains in place only for people who have a legitimate need.

That need still exists -- and it's good that the Obama administration is aware of it.